The Boston Celtics were favored by the NBA Championship odds at online bookmakers before the season, but they have been overtaken shortly before the playoffs! The flying OKC Thunder are now expected to win, with multiple other teams ready to upset them.
Will the Celtics manage to defend their crown, or are the Tunder ready for glory? Continue reading to find the winner odds, analysis, and my 2024-25 NBA Championship predictions!
NBA Championship 2024-25 Betting Odds
The following NBA 2025 winner odds are courtesy of Bovada:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +190 |
| Boston Celtics | +220 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +550 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +850 |
| Golden State Warriors | +900 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2000 |
| New York Knicks | +3300 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +4000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +5000 |
There hasn’t been much movement at the top of the NBA championship odds as Oklahoma City’s (+190) price has shortened from +200, which gives them an implied win probability of 34.5%. The reigning champions from Boston (+220) have the same price as last week, and their implied win chance of 31.2% also remains the same.
Cleveland’s (+550) price has increased slightly, but only up from +525 on April 4. The Los Angeles Lakers (+850) have fallen from +600, and the same goes for Golden State (+900), who were +800 last week.
The big drop comes from Denver (+2000), who were +1400 at NBA betting sites last week. But after firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, the Nuggets’ NBA odds tumbled.
The New York Knicks (+3300) are next, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers (+4000) and Minnesota Timberwolves (+5000).
You can find up-to-date NBA Championship 2024-25 odds at Bovada by navigating to All Sports > Basketball > NBA Futures > NBA Championship.
Favorites for the 2024-25 NBA Championship
The NBA Championship 2025 odds suggest that it’s a two-team race between the Celtics and Thunder. However, there are a slew of hungry teams behind them that will be eager to prove everyone wrong.
Let’s analyze the top favorites and their chances following the All-Star break:
Oklahoma City Thunder (+190)
- Head Coach: Mark Daigneault
- 2023-24 Record: 57-25 (Loss Conference Semifinals)
- NBA Titles: 1 (Seattle Supersonics)
- Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
The Thunder don’t have anything left to play for in the regular season as they’ve clinched first in the Western Conference, and they’ll also be the top overall seed. This gets the Thunder a home court advantage if they manage to make it to the NBA Finals!
Official: The Oklahoma City Thunder has secured the best record and in the NBA and homecourt advantage for the entire playoffs.
At this point, the final 2 games of OKC’s season carry zero weight.
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) April 10, 2025
OKC is 66-14 with two games left, they’re third in offensive rating, and first in defensive rating and overall net rating, respectively. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a runaway favorite in the NBA MVP odds, while they have Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort as DPOY candidates.
There isn’t much you can say about the Thunder’s status as favorites this year and I think they’re properly priced. It’s just a matter of whether the Thunder can do it in the postseason. They lost in the second round to Dallas last season, but the team is a year older, and they added pieces, such as Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.
OKC is the best team in the league heading into the playoffs, but the defending champions might have something to say about it!
Boston Celtics (+220)
- Head Coach: Joe Mazzulla
- 2023-24 Record: 64-18 (Champions)
- NBA Titles: 18
- Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis
The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference and are 59-21 with two games left. They’ve actually been better on the road (33-8) than at home (26-13). This bodes well for the Celtics, who would have to play a Game 7 on the road if they face Cleveland in the East finals.
MOST ROAD WINS IN A SINGLE SEASON IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
WHERE MY ROAD DOGS AT??? 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/OsN6Cnvd53
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 9, 2025
Boston does have some injuries to their key players, and their entire top six sat out a 96-76 loss to Orlando on April 8. But all of these injuries seem to be minor. With back-to-back games against Charlotte to end the regular season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Celtics sat everyone.
But we’ve seen the Celtics win last year, and lost to Golden State in the 2022 Finals. Don’t count out the Celtics and their NBA title odds for 2025!f
Contenders for the NBA Championship
Online sportsbooks have three teams just behind the Thunder and Celtics in the title odds for this season!
Cleveland Cavaliers (+550)
- Head Coach: Kenny Atkinson
- 2023-24 Record: 48-34 (Loss Conference Semifinals)
- NBA Titles: 1
- Key Players: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley
The Cavaliers wrapped up the top seed in the East and are 63-16 with three games left. Like the Thunder and Celtics, they can afford to rest everyone for the last two games of the season.
Coach was H Y P E after securing the No. 1 seed in the East! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/psYFYqsFd2
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 9, 2025
It has been a banner season in Cleveland, but at +550, the Cavaliers still feel like they’re being overlooked. They’re first in the league in offensive rating, eighth in defensive rating, and second in net rating. That defensive-rating stat also seems misleading as the Cavaliers can lock you up when the time comes, and Evan Mobley is near the top of the NBA DPOY odds.
Donovan Mitchell has also proven that he can go head-to-head with the top scorers in the NBA. Kenny Atkinson has made the Cleveland offense more versatile, but they can still lean on Mitchell to go one-on-one when they have to. They’re some great value in the Cavs’ NBA title odds, and yet, I’m one of the people overlooking the Cavaliers, especially in a series against Boston.
Los Angeles Lakers (+850)
- Head Coach: J.J. Redick
- 2023-24 Record: 47-35 (Loss First Round)
- NBA Titles: 17
- Key Players: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Austin Reaves
The Lakers might be the most terrifying team in the West, outside of Oklahoma City. They’re 49-31 with two games left, and one win over their last two games will clinch a top-four seed. They’ll host Houston and travel to Portland in those games.
CAN’T COOL HIM OFF 💧 pic.twitter.com/mJo7adQ6nV
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 10, 2025
Luka Dončić was brilliant in his return to Dallas, scoring 45 points with eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. While he won’t play like that every night, Doncic raises the Lakers’ ceiling dramatically. LeBron James had 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, which is scary for the rest of the league. Austin Reaves has also taken a massive leap in the second half of the season.
However, I do worry about their defense, which comes and goes. The Lakers have to be fully connected as a team on that end and not take plays off. But they don’t do that all the time, which means they’ll have to simply outscore everyone. The Lakers are 10th in offensive rating, and 20th in defensive rating, so they’ll have to tighten up defensively.
This is a fair price for their NBA title odds, possibly a little overpriced. But they have Doncic and James, which will always give them a chance!
Golden State Warriors (+900)
- Head Coach: Steve Kerr
- 2023-24 Record: 47-35 (Loss Play-in Round)
- NBA Titles: 7
- Key Players: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler
The Warriors are in a battle to get out of the play-in round, where they currently are in seventh place. They’re a half-game behind sixth-placed Memphis, and the Warriors travel to Portland before hosting the Clippers to end the season.
“Clearly the Warriors are flawed, look what happened last night.” 😬 @WindhorstESPN on how Golden State’s 114-111 loss to the Spurs could affect their playoff fate in the West 👀 pic.twitter.com/AaeWXoOwzV
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 10, 2025
Former Warrior Harrison Barnes dealt a massive blow to his former team in a 114-111 loss to Golden State on April 9, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer for the San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors are desperate to avoid the play-in round, where they lost last season to Sacramento.
The Warriors are seventh in defensive rating behind the exploits of Draymond Green, the favorite in the NBA DPOY odds. They also still have Stephen Curry, a one-man offense upon himself. Jimmy Butler adds a lot to the team, but unless he turns into the “Playoff Jimmy” that led Miami to two NBA Finals, it’s difficult to see Golden State winning the title.
The Top Sleeper for the NBA Championship in 2024-25
Before finalizing my early NBA Championship 2025 predictions, let’s look at the most dangerous sleeper heading into the postseason. Take a look at these teams when going over your NBA betting strategy for the title in 2025:
NBA Championship 2024-25 Prediction and Betting Pick
I’m recommending that you take Oklahoma City’s NBA title odds at +190 now, as the value will diminish with each round. The Thunder are so good on both ends of the floor that I can’t pick against them. Even if they struggle offensively, their defense will travel. I’d be more worried about Boston than Cleveland, but Oklahoma City can beat both of them, so I’m making the Thunder my NBA title prediction!
If you want to sprinkle a little something on a value pick, Minnesota at +5000 is the way to go. They’ve improved so much on both ends of the floor, and there isn’t a single team that they’ll be scared of in the playoffs.
They also have Edwards, who can go toe-to-toe with Gilgeous-Alexander, or anyone in the league. If they can just make it to the playoffs, the Timberwolves are my NBA sleeper bet for the championship!
Where to Bet on the 2024-25 NBA Championship?
NBA betting for the 2024-25 campaign is in full swing as the postseason approaches, so make sure to get your future wagers in now! Take advantage of the opening NBA Championship odds with the best prices at Bovada.
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